Birthing Mom

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

My journey with my twin pregnancy ended on 7/26/2012 with the birth of my boys. The journey was incredible and some what of a challenge, but in the end I would have not changed a single thing. I hope my story will empower women to not fear childbirth, but to embrace it.
With this last pregnancy experience I wanted to experience birth my way, when we found out we were pregnant our plan was to have a home-birth. Little did we know we were expecting twins and with the "so-called risk" of a twins no midwives in the state of Tennessee would agree to handle my prenatal care and home- birth. This was very heartbreaking to me because I feared having my twins in a hospital because I did not want a c-section nor did I want a fight on my hands in choosing to have a natural, intervention free birth in a hospital. So I decided to LET IT ALL GO! I chose to focus on having healthy babies my way no matter where my pregnancy ended. I trusted the Great Spirit to guide me and give me strength to handle whatever challenges were be set before me. The only thing I knew to do was to continue eating healthy, keeping my mind clear and set on positive results and I communicated with my babies everyday telling them how happy I was to have them and how much I wanted to see them healthy and strong when their born.

Recall of the birth...

Wednesday July 16thPrenatal Vist:
I went to my monthly prenantal visit and found out I was already 2 centimeters dilated at 35 weeks and 7 days pregant. The babies and my health were in excellent condition, From my last ultra-sound taken the month before Baby A was in a Vertex (head down position) and Baby B was Breech. The babies position and our great health made me a good candidate for a natural delivery.

I gave my doctors our birth plan they already knew I wanted a natural birth, but when they saw my birth plan eyebrows raised. I made it very clear that I wanted to be in charge of my birth with only doctors assistance in case of an emergency. No medicine, No constant monitoring, No interventions No Delivery in the OR(operating room). Plain and simple, I made it clear I did not want to be looked at as a "high risk" patients just because I was having twins. Everything leading up to the pregnancy has been healthy and normal so why shouldn't birth.

We chose to have our babies at Vanderbilt University a "teaching hospital", 9 times out of 10 the doctor who would assist me in delivering my babies would be doctors I never met before who knew nothing about me except that I was pregnant and considered "high risk" because I was caring twins. Why we chose this hospital? I do not know it just felt right, and I figured the purpose behind it will reveal itself soon.

Prior to this appointment I had to do alot of research on hospital policy on twin births to make sure my tracks were covered. I searched the internet, hospital policy and found not one thing on the hospitals policy on twin birth, so I decided to call the hospital just to make sure, and I spoke with the hospital manager who was in charge of the maternity wing. She assured me that their no policy and that my wishes on my birth plan could be honored even my wish not to have my twins in the OR (Operating Room). I felt major relief I didn't want to have my babies in the operating room because I knew if I did I would loose control of my birth and the doctors would have a home court advantage. Instead I wanted to labor and birth in a Labor & Delivery room like every other woman.

Wednesday 7/25/201237 weeks and 1 day
I woke up at 6:02 am I felt restless , so I got out of bed and decided to do a little grocery shopping. By the time I got home I noticed my pants being very moist in between my legs, I changed my pants and kept it moving with my daily duties of being a mother, wife and running a business. A few hours later I noticed more moisture and decided to call my doctor to see if I could be check to make sure my water was not leaking. They suggested I go to the hospital to get checked out.
When we made it to the hospital I found out my water had not broke, but I was 5cm dilated with contractions coming 3 minutes apart. I did not feel a thing (Thank you Hypno-babies NO PAIN!!!), so they decided to admitted me in the hospital after they see how I progressed after about a hour. A hour passed and I was 6 cm dilated 50% effaced and baby B in a -1 station.

I was finally in labor, once we were admitted and into a room I made sure all the staff and my nurse had copies of my birth plan making it very clear what kind of birth I wanted. And to my surprise everyone on the team respected my wishes and didn't give me a hard time. I was amazed I remember thinking to myself " wow that was easy!" Then the waiting began....

My contractions were coming regular, I felt no pain only a lots of pressure I continued with my baby hypnosis, I walked, sat on my birthing ball, nipple stimulation, and laughed with my family for the next few hours. By 10pm that evening I was still the same no change, this didn't concern me I knew my babies knew when they wanted to be born and this halt in my laboring was very normal, labor shouldn't have a time frame and I trusted my body.
After hours have gone passed with no progression the doctors suggested I use some pitocin to speed things up, I declined their offer. They then suggested I be moved to another room to let me rest and eat and whenever my labor decided to pick back up they would bring me back to labor and delivery. Once in the new room my labor had completely stopped, no more contraction so I took the time to relax and sleep.

Thursday 7/26/201237 weeks 2 days
The next morning I woke up at 4 in the morning and I meditated and talked to my babies. Spirit told me today would be the day, but it would not be easy. After a good meditation session and breakfast I was checked again, this time by a new team of doctors who knew nothing about my birth plan and did not want to honor it. After being check with no progress more doctors came in trying to persuaded me to change my mind about the pitocin still holding my ground I declined with a smile on my face. Next even more staff decided to pay me a visit trying to talk me out of my descicion to not have my babies in the Operating Room. This crowd of doctors we definitely different then the last crowd. They came in with all kinds of excuses and horror stories on why I couldn't have the normal birth I wanted because Baby B was breech. I held strong and continued to give lots of No's with a smile nothing they could say or do moved me. As more and more tension decided to build my contractions picked back up and labor began once again. I was moved back into L&D to be greeted by more and more unhappy doctors who were totally against me having a natural birth my way with only their minimal assistance.

Things really heated up in that room the ironic thing was my labor got even stronger. After a long and some what hostile talk with the doctors and other hospital staff we were left in the room with a lot of things to think about. Luckily for me I had a great team by my side my husband and my mother. We had to regroup and have a plan in place before the doctors decided to come back in. I knew I couldn't deal with anymore arguing now that my labor picked back up, that wouldn't be good for me or my babies. So I began to meditate listening to my Chakra sounds and I started to visualize my birthing my babies the way I wanted, I told my boys to be born nice, fast , and easy. I continued to visualize baby B head down and being born easy.This moment was powerful I felt strong and that I was protected, I remember hearing my ancestors speak to me telling me "you can do this its almost over" I was so overwhelmed with all kinds of emotions that I began to cry, this cry was so refreshing all of my fears, came out through my tears and the power of the Universe flooded my body and I felt that I could do anything.

Recharged me and my team came up with our plan to request a ultra-sound to see baby B's position and made it clear we would accept medical intervention if it was necessary. Then my mother began to remove all the negative energy out the room a anointed it with lavender oil. My husband placed my crystals around the room to create a peaceful environment. We brought back peace and calmness. We were ready to handle what ever came our way.

The doctors returned and to our surprise they had completely transformed they agreed to our plan, their attitudes had changed. Our magic changed the entire wing, they agreed to let me birth in L&D in the position I chose. I was closer to birthing my way.

We had another ultrasound done and it showed that baby B had already turned head down and that threw all the so-called "risk" out the door. Everything was in place everyone's negative attitudes changed we were all on the same page.

My labor really started to pick up, but I was still at 6 cm with my bag of water bulging, I knew my water had to break because the fluid prevented Baby A to move down so I had my water broken. That was all we needed I instantly went from 6cm to 9 cm in a mater of minutes. 20 minutes had passed and I was ready to push, the staff had everything prepped and ready they position my bed to I could squat they even gave me a squatting bar.

Ready yo push

I squatted there listening to Alicia Keys "Super Woman" holding my Snowflake Obsidian and Quartz Crystal, everyone in the room waited on my call and watched as I pushed with each contraction after the 3rd push Zion Amire' was born at 6:45p.m. into my arms very alert and crying 100% healthy Baby B was right behind him all it took was for me to push 1 more time and Zavion Kamray was born at 6:49p.m. into my arms just as healthy as his big brother.

Both boys were 5lbs and 13oz a piece and 18 inches long. They were healthy everyone in the delivery room were amazed. They never saw nothing like it, I was the first woman to ever birth twins in that hospital without the OR room.

The next morning I was greeted by all kinds of staff who congratulated me and even thanked me for showing them that there was another way to birth. They said I taught them. It was a very proud moment.

Zavion & Zion

Zavion 12 hours old

Zion 12 hours old

To wrap it all I up I was cleared to go home with my babies perineum still intact ( NO TEARS!!!) that Saturday morning.
I got everything I wanted and more I left feeling empowered, and happy to have my boys in each arm.
I hope this story will encourage every woman who wants to make their birth the way they want it. No matter what the setting is you have rights and if you stand your ground nothing can go wrong Trust Your body. I knew my body and I trusted my body to do exactly what it was created to do. Having a positive mind gives positive results.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

My 35th week has come to an end, and I am ever more convinced that as women we can spiritually evolve during pregnancy and childbirth. This is such a sacred time and should be treated as such. I feel great to be pregnant I feel so in-tuned with the nature, my babies and even more in-tuned with who I am. I know after the birth of my twins I will have evolved into a higher expression of who I am. I really have shed many limitations, fears, doubts, worries that have been apart of me for so many years during this pregnancy.

Birth is so close, I feel my babies letting me know this with my increase in pre~labor contractions and their nightly visits in my dreams.

Last post I shared how I began my spiritual nesting by removing all clutter and smudging to have the energies just right for my little ones arrival. This week in addition to the energy clearing I have started preparing and charging my crystals for my crystal grid I will place in my home and in the hospital for the birth of the twins.

The crystals I plan on using are:

Preidot~ Peridot is particularly good for healing the healers. A Visionary stone, it brings understanding of destiny and purpose. Releases negative vibrations, and promotes clarity and well being.

Clear Quartz ~ This stone amplifies prayers, wishes and positive visualizations. Keeps you in touch with your spiritual side, and reminds you that you are a spiritual being, having a human experience. All spiritual pursuits can be stimulated and amplified using this stone's energy. It helps you to be receptive to higher guidance.

Cowrie Shells~ an ancient symbol for creation, birth, and re~birth. it is said to inspire the creativity of excellence, to provide for both intuitive ans intellectual control, they are the master stone, with extraordinary healing properties

My crystal Grid

I chose the crystals because I feel that the energy they bring will help keep the nurturing and loving environment that my family and I want to welcome the twins in, placing the crystals in a geometric pattern makes the energy more powerful than using a single crystal for our intended goal.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Week 34 has ended for me in, and I am so much closer to seeing my baby boys. From my last visit with my health care provider and midwife the babies are estimated to weigh about 5lbs a piece, they are in a great position for d~day, and mama and babies health are above average.
To be considered full term in a twin pregnancy a mother much reach it to 36 weeks of gestation, which I believe I will not have a problem in doing so.
This is a very exciting time for me I feel that the end is almost near and this journey has been a wonderful experience.
So many people ask me how do I look so good pregnant especially carrying twins, I do not have the big swelled up pregnancy nose or any of the other "so -called" pregnancy symptoms that most women experience. I owe all of that to a healthy spirit, mind , and body I take care of myself on each level of my being and the results have been amazing. Being pregnant does not have to be a miserable experience its all about how you think. The one thing I committed myself to not doing during this pregnancy was not to hex myself with all the the complaining that most women subject themselves to while being pregnant stuff like "I feel horrible", or " I can't wait for this to be over", sayings like those are one of the reasons why pregnancy can be tough for some women. You are what you think.

This week has been my nesting week, I feel that my boys will be here in the next few weeks and I want to have my home prepared for their arrival. Now the nesting that I am speaking of is not the ordinary cleaning or getting the nursery ready I took it a step further and start doing some heavy energetic clearing. Remember the best thing you can do as an expecting mother is have a peaceful environment for you baby or babies to come home too. Believe it or not energy can effect how you new arrival settles into their new earth home.
Some of the things I began doing was removing all clutter and items around my house that no longer served a purpose. Negative energy hides itself in clutter and in messy environments. Secondly I have been going through my home every day and sprinkling dead sea salts on every inch of my floors, this neutralizes negative energy and it makes a big difference. You just sprinkle it on your floors leave it down for a hour and vacuum.... that easy. Finally I smudge my home with a combination of white sage, lavender, and sweet grass to purify my home, and welcome in loving spirits that protect my home and add a great vibration to our surroundings. To add a even better touch I recharged all of crystals I have around my home, and I brought blessing candles that I will burn during my labor and birthing process,
With birth fastly approaching these simple little rituals really enhance the environment and brings a great loving energy to my home, I plan on doing this everyday until the babies come.
Next I plan on creating a crystal around my home especially for the babies so their transition from womb to land is a easy one.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The end of my 33rd week of the pregnancy has been quite amazing experience spiritually as well as emotionally and physically.

Physically my body is starting to feel the final weeks of pregnancy approaching. The twins have settled deeper into my pelvis causing some soreness and a bit of pressure when I stand.

Warm baths with dead sea salt, honey, jasmine, and lavender does wonders for the soreness.My daily doses of spirulina help keep my energy up so I can keep up with my other little ones. I can feel that my body is preparing for the big day, due to an increase in Braxton Hicks contractions and pelvic pressure. When my body goes through this phase its a good time for me to practice my breathing and relaxation techniques they help me to stay relaxed instead of tensed.

Overall emotionally I have been peaceful and balanced my daily stretching and crystal meditations have helped me have a calm mood during this Cancer moon cycle. This week I have worked with alot of Moonstone and Rose Quartz.

I decided to work with these two crystals this week because they both help make a Cancer moon phase alot easier, but they are also good stones to use during pregnancy. Our babies not only feed off of the foods that we eat, but we feed our babies emotionally, and spiritually. Working with these crystals helps me to be more centered and in-tuned with my body and my babies.

Overall this week is a great week no complications, just patiently awaiting the big day.

When I found out I was pregnant with twins, you would think I would be excited and overjoyed. That was not the case finding out that I would be having twins left me feeling horrified. I had my mind wrapped around just having one baby, now "I have two babies living inside me, that I would have to eventually push out of my womb", were the thoughts rambling through my mind. Not to mention birthing the my little ones naturally, I knew I did not want a medicated birth or worse a C-section. I knew I needed some reinforcements to keep my mind calm and give me the confidence to birth my twins naturally.

Luckily a friend of mine told me about Hypnobabies, its a self hypnosis series made for women to prepare them for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and even birthing your twins naturally. I decided to give it a try and I have been using it since my 20th week of pregnancy and it is one of the best things I could have done during this pregnancy. After just a week of listening to the sessions I felt more confident in my body handling my pregnancy, my fears about birthing my twins naturally began to diminish, I actually began enjoying being pregnant. Hypnosis really helped me to be in control of my pregnancy and to feel empowered to be actually growing my babies.

I know every woman has fears about having a baby and alot of time I believe this is what causes so complications during pregnancy and even during the birthing process. Our minds are powerful tools they can create our strongest desires and even our worst fear depending on where our attention goes. Hypnosis helped me to shift my negative thoughts about birth to positive ones and this changed my entire perspective about birthing my twins naturally. So now I am ready for the big day, I know there will be moments where I may shift back to those thoughts of fear, but using hypnosis help me remind myself of how powerful I am and that my body, mind, and spirit knows how to birth my babies naturally.

I recommend Hypnobabies to any women who wants a natural birth, but afraid to do so it changed my life and I know it will change yours.

Azizah Nubia has precious jewels of knowledge & inspiration from the higher planes, to help the world restore balance. "The world that you see is a pure reflection of who you are, what is felt on the inside reflects whats on the outside." ~ Azizah Nubia

Azizah Nubia has precious jewels of knowledge & inspiration from the higher planes, to help the world restore balance.

"The world you see is a pure reflection of who you are, what is felt on the inside reflects whats on the outside" ~ Azizah Nubiawww.returntobalance.webs.com

Friday, June 22, 2012

A lot of people ask me all the time did I plan for more children. To be honest I was aware that I would have two more children ( I was told this during a spiritual reading), but, I did not know when or that I would be having twins although I know it was a possibility.
When I found out I was pregnant it was very unexpected I wasn't ready for another child, but as always I go with the flow. Before it was confirmed that we were expecting twins I noticed about 8 weeks into the pregnancy that my uterus was measuring a little bigger then usual. ( yes I measured my own uterus) So I knew deep down I was carrying twins, so when my ultra sound confirmed twins it wasn't a surprise.

Did we plan this?

I'm sharing this story because I think it is funny when I tell people how we got pregnant because we always get "Did you plan it?" And the answer is no. The night I conceived was the night I tested out my natural sexual enhancement tea "Tantric Lover", this tea was created as an aid to help couples in the bedroom as well as naturally improve sexual performance and reproductive functions in both male and female.
When my husband and I drank the tea and tested it out and sure enough the tea worked just as I thought it would, but what I fell to realize was...... the tea not only improved our sexual experience, but it also increased fertility..... When I realized this I was happy to know that my product worked, but come on now!!..... really.... twins......me!!! I laugh every time I think of that!!!
I do believe that my Tantric Lover tea did increase our chances of getting pregnant as well as increase our chances of having twin along with our family history. But this is not the case for everyone Tantric lover is a great aphrodisiac to take for fun.

At my Blessings way 2012

Now, I'm here expecting twin boys in a few weeks really happy, sharing with the world a special moment in my life and my families lives. Hoping that I can help inspire woman to transform their lives to creating the highest expression of themselves.... So did I plan this? No, would I change anything or have any regrets?..... No, my life is unfolding just as it should be.

Azizah Nubia has precious jewels of knowledge & inspiration from the higher planes, to help the world restore balance. "The world that you see is a pure reflection of who you are, what is felt on the inside reflects whats on the outside." ~ Azizah Nubia

I am approaching the end of my 32nd week of my pregnancy and unlike most pregnant mothers I really enjoy being pregnant. I feel really good health wise I have plenty of energy to keep up with my family I feel really good. One thing I have realized is that your body feels as good as you think it will feel. I remember when I was younger I would complain about being pregnant and I truly felt that way, but now I no longer complain, I am amazed at how my body is growing and I look at my body as this safe haven for my babies. They are safe and getting everything they need to grow. Looking at my pregnancy in this way has shifted my perspective of being pregnant so now I can enjoy and receive all the wonderful gifts that pregnancy can bring as well as making it a great experience. I've learned that I have conscious control of creating all of my experiences to their highest potential and that includes my pregnancy.

However my sleep has been interrupted lately due to my growing belly so this weeks challenge for me was to find the best sleeping position for me, now this task was quite difficult because I thought it would be impossible, but I found away and this may help anybody who is or will be in my position. I found that sleeping propped up in the bed with pillows while I slept help me get a restful nights sleep and it relieved alot of discomfort I experienced when I had to turn or get out the bed for my night time bathroom trips.

My diet has also changed a lot this week due to my growing womb taking up space in my digestive cavity. Because of this my meals have been a lot smaller but more frequent I snack more on fruits and nuts. If I tried to eat big greasy meals I would be miserable with indigestion and heartburn..... So below I made a list of great foods that are great to eat, packed with nutrients, and are heart burn free.

Grapes (Green & Red)

Berries

Kiwi

Strawberries

Peaches

Pistachios

Trail mix

Raisins

These foods are great snacks especially if your on the go, like I am. These foods keep my satisfied in between my meals and they give me loads of energy.